Teacher Appreciation - Day 5

Thanks a Latte for All You Do - gift card holder.

It's day 5....the end. FINALLY.  On the fifth day my daughter wanted me to include yet an another aide to the class that has no relevance to my daughter's learning or behavior except that my child loves her.  So, on the last day we did 3 gifts.  I found this here.

Teacher Appreciation - Day 4

I Couldn't Have "Picked" a Better Teacher Topper for fresh strawberries.

Yesterday, we went and got fresh picked strawberries.  We would have picked them ourselves but with the one year old crying constantly and us in flip flops it just wasn't going to work out.  But for $3 a pint we got them just the same and in the cute green strawberry baskets.  Eighteen 25 is where I picked up this nifty idea and while I LOVED what she put in hers I am trying to keep the gifts down to under $10 a day for both gifts.  Remember, I included the teacher and the aide.  So far we are under everyday.  I didn't think of needing cellophane to wrap around the strawberries until after we were home.  Thankfully, we had just been to Costco and were able to use some of the scrap cellophane that came off the eggs and Ziploc baggies. No cellophane would be necessary if you were helping your child take them in but I usually am not out of my PJ's when I drop my child off at school.  I know....ludicrous to think I would need to be fully dressed by 8:30 in the morning. Ha. Ha.

Attach the adorable label to some wired red ribbon and tie it up with a cute bow and voila finished.  I did edit the tag in Gimp to include my child's name on the back.  I've been having her write on the back from and then her name....and it helps her with her handwriting but I do like the perfection of typed labels.  I hope the teachers like them.

Teacher Appreciation - Day 3

Thank you being a Great "Ade" for Our Class & Thank You for Quenching My Thirst for Knowledge Drink Toppers.

 This is the easiest of all the Teacher Appreciation gifts I have done so far.  These cups can be bought at Joann's for $3.00 each with a 50% off coupon.  I bought mine last week and the sweetest little checker let me use the coupon twice. Sweet!  You then need to print off this topper. Again, not designed by me....but, that is the theme this week since I am doing a gift everyday.  I need simple and easy.  I put a pack of lemonade in the teacher's aide cup so I can play up the word "ade".  I would have put in more but that was all I had and I forgot to buy those last week.

Teacher Appreciation - Day 2

For a Very Popular Teacher and Teacher's Aide Gift Certificate Holders.

This is what we did for day two of Teacher Appreciation Week.  I used this bag topper for a very popular teacher (graphics by Kate Hadfield of digiscrapping.com and design by domesticated lady.)  

Update: 2016
I had the bag topper I used linked to where I found it but.....the link is no longer active and I could not find it again. If anyone can find the original source please let me know so I can redirect to the proper credit. This is not my design! 

Again, no reinventing the wheel here.  Just simple and cute.  I then bought $5 Redbox giftcards and printed them off with promo codes on the back.  Hey, $5 from Redbox goes a long way.  Whoo Hoo!

Update again 2016:
There are so many requests for this! I just started a photography business last year and I am having a hard time getting "likes" on my business page or comments even for that matter. I have no shame anymore. lol. So, could you do me a favor? I ask if I send you the template PRETTY PLEASE go to my business page and like or comment on one of my photos....again I know I have no shame. Facebook.com/lisajonesphoto

Also, let me know if you don't receive this and I responded here that I've sent it. For some reason my yahoo mail will NOT let me send an attachment. But, I can send it another way if you let me know that you didn't get it.

Teacher Appreciation - Day 1

I'm One Smart Cookie Thanks to You!

Today is day one of teacher appreciation week.  Our first gift is chocolate chip cookies I found at Target for $2.50 a pack....and these are pretty big packs.  These work out perfect because the little hole at the top (where they slide them on the peg to display) is the perfect spot for the ribbon and tag. I saw this idea here.  Don't you love when you don't have to reinvent the wheel?  Internet, I love you. 

  We do two of each gift because we have a teacher's aide also.  I like to include her because when I was interning and it was Christmas or whatever holiday I sometimes was left out.  One parent said it was because I wasn't the "real" teacher.  Well little did they know I was doing EVERYTHING because I didn't have the greatest mentor. So for that reason I understand what it is like to not be the real teacher but be working just as hard. 

Milk and Cookies Party

Here are the invites. 

Here's the invite.  I made these using these graphics.  I usually never buy graphics but instead of me spending hours and hours on the computer and still not getting what I wanted...I decided to buy.  So glad I did.

As you walk in the door I set up the gift table with Cookie Letter "E" for Emmy. I always hate walking into a party and asking, "where do I put this?"  Question solved.

I got the cookie letter "E" idea here.

Since we moved in I haven't found anything permanent to go over the mantle and instead of a blank wall staring at you I saw this here and thought it was perfect. All it required was this free program you download and printer paper.  I took this photo of the birthday girl the day before the party.  It was so simple I even printed it off the morning of the party and my Mom hung it up with some double sided tape.  Easy peasy.  And to add a little character I added a yarn wrapped E.

Here is the table setup. I bought this crate at Joann's and it was raw wood.  I liked it that way because then I could stain it any color I wanted.  So for less than $10 I had a customized vintage milk crate.  I turned it upside down and plopped the cake on top to give some height to the table.

Faux milk bottles (Starbucks recycled frappucinno bottles).  I posted a request online and a lady saved over 40 bottles plus one of my friends saved also.  Free and easy.  I just painted the top of the lids silver for the one's I put in the beverage tub.  I didn't expect everyone to save so many.....thanks friends!

The cookies: we served animal cookies (the birthday girl's faves), snicker doodle, chocolate chip, no bake, and oreos.

I didn't really get a good head on picture of the table but I had tissue pom poms above the table on both sides.

Pink hydrangeas in a vintage milk glass.  By the way you can find those at Joann's.  Well at least at the bigger Joann's.

Chocolate "milk mustaches".  Used later for photo props and of course to eat.

I mustache you a question,"do you like my party?"

Party guests goofing off.

12 Month banner and invitation I put on our cork board in the kitchen.

Here is the only picture that really shows off the birthday girl's outfit.  Isn't it adorable?  I love it.  It has milk, cookies, #1, and her name.  Can it get any cuter?

I found these Ms. One-derful sunglasses at a party store and thought they were cute.  She actually kept them on for a few seconds at the store.  But no such luck on her birthday.

The highchair setup. 

 Here is my attempt at a portrait style photo in our living room the day before the party.  I used this for the tile picture above the mantle.

Guests were encouraged to take cookies home that were left over using these bags.  I made the labels using the graphics I purchased and my Silhouette machine. 

Update: I sell the labels for the cookie mix in my Etsy Shop.

The official take home favors were oatmeal chocolate chip cookie mixes.  I modified this recipe.  I cut it down to 5 servings , which makes 1 dozen cookies.  Perfect size for the recycled Starbucks frappacinno bottles. I omitted the nuts and the baking soda.  Styled labels for the front and back of the bottles. 

The back labels were the directions. The scaled down directions are: 1 T of egg, and 2 3/4 T butter.  I tried it four times before perfecting it.  Tough job, but someone had to do it.

These were the inspiration for the favor.

This party was a lot of work and as usual I couldn't have pulled it off without the help of family.  Thanks family!